Money or love?

[el murdoque]

When I compare the cost of my gear to the pile of cash I get from gigging, then I can already draw some (expensive) conclusions about that.
If my stuff held up well and I played every weekend for the next decade, I think I could achieve a positive balance.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I love to play. Bonus #1 is that I have great bandmates. Bonus #2 is the money that I do make doing it.

 

[DWBass]

I play to get paid. Just gonna be honest. Ain't no money, I'm staying at home.

 

[Jefenator]

There really need a choice for "both".
Working a full-time straight job out of necessity would take away from the playing that I love to do.

 

[MNAirHead]

It impacts how far I'll drive, how late I'll stay up, how many rules I'll follow, the gear I'll schlep and how reliable I am.

 

[Wissen]

My area isn't populous enough to support many full-time musicians, and those that try are solo acoustic bar cover acts who burn out roughly every eight months.

I have three bands going and a couple of music programs I run as a mentor/advisor. They are all essentially volunteer, or at least I treat them as such.

I would love to earn a living as a musician/podcaster. But for me the thing that has really killed the dream is that I am not at all interested in and could not be arsed to learn the skills for running a small business. I have a musical mind, not a business mind. I don't want to do taxes and keep books and make calls to book shows and do all the other things it takes to be self-employed in America in 2024.

As a result music is my life force, but not a life-sustaining one.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

While I try to conduct myself professionally, I am not a professional musician. I do this for the love of playing with others and the sheer thrill of playing in front of a crowd.

That said, I won't be insulted. I firmly believe that playing for free significantly hurts a live music scene in the long run.

So, a burger, fries, modest bar allowance, and enough pay to make it worth my and my band's while, and I'm happier than a pig in s**t.

I may be cheap, but I ain't easy. Oh, wait. That's not entirely true. D'oh!

 

[SteveC]

I like to play. I like the pay. As I tell people who ask, I'm not getting paid to play. I'm getting paid to practice, learn songs, have working gear, load in and load out, be away from my family, etc. That said, there are times when I play for very little pay. It may be a genre that isn't super popular or doesn't command large crowds to get the pay. Background jazz gigs at socials for example. I might get $50-$100 for an hour or two. I play with a singer/songwriter couple (they play acoustics) that does covers and originals. Again, I might make $50-$100 for an hour or two. My church gig is $75 a Sunday for two services. The cover band where I play bass and bass synth is much more work with sound and lights to load in and set up. It's about a 2 hour load in/soundcheck and about an hour for load out. Mostly 3 hour gigs. We usually get $300-$500 a gig.

I don't "need" the money, but it sure helps for maintaining gear, and to have some "gravy" money for the kids' needs which are more expensive as they age. Cars, apartments, instruments, etc. I am careful about playing for "beer" as I real it devalues what most musicians/bands do. I wouldn't do the cover band gig for free, but with a tip jar to pull from I'd probably do the others for free or "beer" as there's very little pre or post work, not a lot of venues, and its a nice variety of music.

 

[gln1955]

I voted love. Considering the driving, load in and load out, there are easier ways to make money. But, as others have said, if I'm helping a venue make money, then I'm gonna be paid, however little the going rate is. I don't need the money, but my playing covers my costs and let's me buy a new toy every once in a while.

 

[JRA]

then: playing for a living --- and loved it!

now: playing to live a little --- and loving it!


rule #1 = musicians get paid for gigs.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Real money in music as a career is a pipe dream for all but the lucky few. If you don't love it, it's a Fools Errand.

 

[Pings Bass]

I don't play out much any more, so I voted carrots.

But my position is firm: even if you don't need the money, you shouldn't play for free (charity gigs excepted).

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I'm getting paid to practice, learn songs, have working gear, load in and load out, be away from my family, etc.

Oh my Yes!

 

[salmon256]

Music bizz ain't easy.
Lots of peoples love of music is ruin by it.
These days I am glad you can make a record at home for fun.
I play for love, art, expression, and just as a hobby to grow as a person. Money is a plus if someone thinks I am that good anyway lol.

 

[Klangfarbe]

Money...? It's OK.
Love to gig... ? Probably.

Really: I just want to be famous (or infamous at least).

 

[Neil Folkard]

I consider myself a serious hobbyist, but it's done for L-O-V-E, all the way. I haven't been playing for all that long (just over 12 years), and only play in original bands, so I never expect to make any money. We do generally make from about $40-$80 a gig each, and that is more than enough for me.

 

[EdO.]

TLR If no one has said it yet, the old chestnut... - Music, Money, Hang. Pick two.

The money is just an acknowledgement that what you're doing has value. Obviously if you're one of the better paid bands around it signifies that your value as entertainment is greater than the norm. BUT if you're not enjoying playing it than what's the point? I tell people only half jokingly that I play for the pleasure of playing. The money is for all the time, money, and effort invested in traveling, setting up/tearing down/loading in and out, and to help offset the cost of quality gear (so the sound is quality). IMO your/my time is worth something (learning, rehearsing, performing) and if we can somehow manage to be compensated for all of that then why not?

 

[devnulljp]

James Grant's old band from Glasgow in the 80s.
Always liked their bass player

 

[Gervais Cote]

I play to get paid. Just gonna be honest. Ain't no money, I'm staying at home.

 

[Wyrdlow]

I do it for the love of it, absolutely, but I'm getting paid when I play! If I've had a few beers and leave with more money than I went with then I'm a happy man!